Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Sugarbowl’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Sugarbowl’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white; within the labellum some yellow and purple; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Sugarbowl’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Sugarbowl’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Sugarbowl’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Sugarbowl’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 1998 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘(Spring Song×Key Largo)’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Silibama’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Sugarbowl’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2006 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in November, 2006 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Sugarbowl’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white; within the labellum some yellow and         purple;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescence is long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Sugarbowl’, the female parent ‘(Spring Song×Key Largo)’ has large white flowers, about 11 cm in size, the male parent ‘Silibama’ has white flowers, about 8 cm in size, whereas the flowers of ‘Sugarbowl’ are white and about 10 cm in size.

Presently, the closest commercial cultivars to which ‘Sugarbowl’ can be meaningfully compared are the parental cultivars, to which a comparison is provided above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Sugarbowl’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Sugarbowl’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sugarbowl’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Sugarbowl’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Sugarbowl’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Sugarbowl’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Sugarbowl’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Sugarbowl’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Sugarbowl’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Sugarbowl’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Sugarbowl’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Sugarbowl’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘(Spring Song×Key Largo)’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Silibama’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Approximately 5 mm-7 mm wide             and greyed/green (RHS 198A and RHS N189D) in color; freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 65 cm. Spread: about 30 cm to 50 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Standard; green leaves (RHS 137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Alternate, clasping.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval, the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & under surface).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 14 to 18 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 6 to 8 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS 137A). Under side:             green (RHS 137C).         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS 137A). Under side: green (RHS 137C). -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 5 to 10.         -   Length.—About 70 cm to 80 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—Green (RHS N137A) with green RHS 137D).         -   Internode.—Length: about 30 to 40 mm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 15 to 25 mm. Diameter             (at midpoint): about 10 to 20 mm. Shape: oval/egg-shaped.             Color: yellow/green (RHS 144C and RHS 145B). Orientation:             same orientation as the flowers (forward facing).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2             racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers             per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected             approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a             leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis orchid; see FIG. 2. Size: Height (of single             bloom): about 75 mm. Diameter (of single bloom): about             95 mm. Depth of tube: about 15 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: three petals and three             sepals that are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2             whorls. Petals are more pronounced than sepals. Arrangement:             Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2 lateral petals and             labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate and             weakly cupped. Apex: oval. Margin: entire and weakly             undulate. Base: broadly ovate. Length: about 53 mm. Width:             about 43 mm. Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny.             Under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened):             upper and under surface: white (RHS NN155D). Labellum:             Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at             central junction of the lateral lobes and base of the             midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the             column; the midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2             filiform appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the             labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular             with a bump and a rib on it. Margin: entire and weakly             undulate. Length: about 18 mm. Width (not flattened): about             25 mm. Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny.             Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: The main color of             the mid lobe and the lateral lobes is white (RHS NN155D).             The base and the top edges of the mid lobe are red/purple             (RHS 72B). The upper corners are green/yellow (RHS 1A). At             the base of the lateral lobes red/purple stripes (RHS 72B).             The bottom of the lobes is yellow (RHS 2B). Under surface:             main color is white (RHS NN155D). The base and the top edges             of the midlobe are red/purple (RHS 72A). In the corners             green/yellow (RHS 1B). Bottom of lateral lobes is yellow             (RHS 2B) and green/yellow (RHS 1C). At top edge little             red/purple (RHS 72B). Cirrhi: long (about 21 mm). Color:             white (RHS NN155D) and yellow (RHS 2B). Pestle             (Callosities): Length: about 7 mm. Width (not flattened):             about 8 mm. Color: yellow (RHS 3A) with red/purple stripes             and spots (RHS 72B).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall             shape: elliptical and weakly cupped. Margin: entire and             weakly undulate. Length: about 45 mm. Width: about 30 mm.             Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny. Color             (when fully opened): upper surface: white (RHS NN155D). The             lateral sepals have a green/yellow haze (RHS 1C). Under             surface: white (RHS NN155D) with a green/yellow haze (RHS 1C             and RHS 1B).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 42 mm. Diameter: about 4 mm. Color:             white (RHS 155C) which runs into yellow/green (RHS 145C) and             then into RHS 145B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 16 mm. Diameter: about 7 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155D).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: Two. Size: about 1 mm. Color: orange             (RHS N25B).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 5 mm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155D). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Sugarbowl’, as illustrated and described herein. 